In situ mining using bacteria

Abstract

Mineral values are recovered in situ by generating a leaching agent in the formation containing the mineral to be recovered.

I claim: 
     
       1. A process for recovering a mineral value from a stratum leachable by a fluid containing a leaching agent comprising: a. injecting into said stratum to contact said mineral value a medium capable of generating a leaching agent in said stratum, said medium consisting essentially of a carrier fluid, a surfactant and a biological agent;   b. generating said leaching agent by action of said biological agent in situ in said stratum to produce a leaching agent concentration sufficient to leach the mineral value in said stratum;   c. leaching said mineral value with said leaching agent; and   d. displacing and recovering said fluid containing leached mineral value.   
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 wherein said biological agent operates on the ferrous-ferric ion cycle. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 1 wherein said biological agent is selected from the group consisting of the genera Ferrobacillus and Thiobacillus. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 1 wherein said mineral value is uranium. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 1 wherein said stratum is a subterranean stratum having at least one injection well for introduction of said fluid and at least one recovery well for recovering said fluid containing leached mineral value, said recovery well being spaced from said injection well. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 1 wherein said medium contains nutrients for said biological agent, and said biological agent is anaerobic bacteria.